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@uiten tartes zttmtt @ffice Letters Patent No. 76,249, dated .lmct 31, 1868i.

MPROVEll/IENT IN WAGON-WHEELS.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERU:

Be it known that I, I. R. RIDGELY, of Iron Mountain, in the county of St. Francis, and State of Missouri, have made certain new and useful Improvements in lagon-Wheels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and clear description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying draw-ings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of this invention is to strengthen the spokes ot' the wheel by means of metallic ribs let into grooves in the edges of the spokes, thus forming the spoke of a compound material, and giving it great strength and elasticity. a

To enable those skilled in the art to make-and use my improved wheel, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a sectional'transverse elevation of the improved wheel.

Figure 2 is a sectional side eleva-tion of the same.

The hub A is mortised for the spokes B in the usual manner, and the felloes'C are also placed upon the ends of the spokes, as is customary. Both edges of the spokes are grooved for the reception of the iron rib b, which is a flat bar of wrought iron. The detail drawing` of the spoke exhibits the mannerv in which the bar or rib is let into the spoke. lThis rib will be a continuous bar, which will extend quite around the tenen that enters the hub, as is shown clearly in iig. 1, and thence passup on each side of the spoke, and have its upper end secured by means of two lngs', which are to be le't into notches cut in the periphery of the 'elloe` The ribs b will extend quito up through the felloe by the side ol the spoke-tenori, notches being eut in the fellocvfor their reception, and not inthe spoke-tenen, which would be too inuch weakened if it were reduced for the reception of the iron rib. The lugs which secure the upper ends of the ribs b, should be bent outwardly at an angle of about ninety degrees 'from vthe sido port-ions of the .said ribs. The central port-ion ot' the ribs may, if necessary, be secured to the spoke by means of a band, b2, or a rivet, Zvi'.

Having described my invention, what I claim, is

The rib when combined with the spoke B and felloeC, in the manner herein shown and for the purpose set forth. l v

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand in presence oill. R. RIDGELY.

Witnesses:

M. RANDOLPH, H. PULL 

